Well, it's been a busy few weeks so I'll probably run through the events one at a time!

Well done to all on the intensive Certificate course with me at Hampton Court Palace recently. It's called intensive for a reason as can be seen by the plasters on the fingers of Nuria and Victoria...

The class hard at work mounting...

It was then a mad dash (for me!) up to Birmingham...

I love learning process and let's face it there is always something new to learn! I spent several months travelling around India and Asia some years ago now, and ever since then I have loved the bright colours, gold, beads, sequins and mirrors that adorn much Indian embroidery. I am currently looking into this further and decided to try and teach myself some new stitches. Here are some samples of my effforts...

The first is Kutch stitch which involves working a herringbone type structure then weaving another thread in and out of this. I tried some simples ones first then jumped straight into something a bit more complicated!:

I think technically you are supposed to weave around the whole grid with one thread without taking it to the back. I think my first attempt may have been a bit ambitious but I think I have gotten away with it!

The other stitch is herringbone circles:

This stitch was taught to me by embroiderer Surjeet Hussain, a few years ago now when I spent a day with her as part of my apprenticeship training. As well as embroidery, she paints miniature paintings and is also a musician. I was very humbled by her many talents. Like I said, always something new to learn.

You can see some shisha mirrors in the background, more on these later!   

This is the next offering from my peg doll kit collection...embroider your own! This one escaped into the garden before I could stop her, I found her taking a walk amongst the flowers...

The kits will include everything you need to make this little doll including printed cotton fabric, Zweigart 25ct fabric, embroidery threads, felt, pipecleaner, waterslide decal face, beads and sequins and full instructions. They are suitable for beginners and are available in various colour ways from my shop.

Lots of new stuff in the shop!

Silk shaded poppy kit (see left)

More needle sizes

Beads

Sequins

Shisha mirrors in various shapes and sizes

Tracing paper packs for 'Prick and Pounce' design transfer method

By the way, the alien plant life question has been answered; not infact alien at all, but Cyclamen seed heads!

This post is nothing to do with art or embroidery (unless, of course I wanted to paint or stitch this!), but we found these weird plants in the garden the other day. They are disguised as stones! Keeping an eye on them to see what they do, but if anyone has any ideas as to what they might be, do let me know.

Having said that, the stones are great colours, this would make a good canvaswork or applique piece. You never know where inspiration will spring up from...